Falcons’ draft board: Brigham Young OLB Kyle Van Noy

Each morning, from now until the draft starts on May 8, we’ll do a short profile of a player who’s on the Falcons’ Draft Board. We’ll focus on team-needs, possible selections, players the Falcons have worked out and/or interviewed, etc. The Falcons own 10 picks in this draft. Today we’ll look at Brigham Young outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who’s set to visit Flowery Branch.

Player: Kyle Van Noy

Position: Outside linebacker

School: Brigham Young

Height and weight: 6-3, 243

Pro Day numbers: 4.71 seconds in the 40-yard dash; 21 reps on the 225-pound bench press;

Brigham Young outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy has unique skills that have the Falcons interested in his services. (Cathleen Allison / Associated Press)

32 1/2-inch vertical; 9-4 broad jump, 4.2 seconds in the short shuttle run and 7.22 seconds in the three-cone drill.

Projected Round: He’s the fourth-rated outside linebacker in the draft and projected to be selected in the first or second round by NFLDraftScout.com.

Career Highlights: He has 26 career sacks. He was named to four All-America teams: Walter Camp second team, Athlon Sports third team, CBSSports.com third team and SI.com honorable mention. He was also named to the FBS all-Independent first-team.

Quotes: “I moved around a lot. I played (weakside) and (strongside). And then when we went into the nickel package, I kind of played the rover. I feel like I’ve done a lot of things that people around me haven’t done. I scored five career touchdowns playing defense, so I feel likeI’m an offensive player on defense. I want to get the ball in the offense’s hands, but also I have the aggression to play linebacker.”

Falcons level on interest: The Falcons have struggled against the run and in coverage against tight ends. They are looking for linebackers who can cover-up both of those deficiencies. Van Noy doesn’t have great foot speed, but has a knack for getting up the field, playing laterally and dropping in coverage.

Here is when the Falcons will select. The NFL draft is set for May 8-10:

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@chomchamps Van Noy was dominant against teams superior to BYU's program such as Ole Miss and Notre Dame, which games I saw personally. During his senior year he produced less because opposing coaches built their offensive strategies around beating Van Noy. Especially Wisconsin -Gary Anderson had seen him play at his own "inferior team's" stadium (Utah State). And yet his stats still speak for themselves. He was the best thing to happen to BYU since Jimmer Fredette.

I sure would love Atlanta to take there Pick #6 with an offensive lineman either Robinson or Mathews and find a way to get another first round pick and snag JACE AMARO from TEXAS TECH. This kid has the hands of Jerry Rice for a tight end and will be one of the best once his career is over.

That is a stretch but I think we need to take a chance on Aldeon Smith if he is released from San Fran. That guy is a BEAST but a nutcase as well. Its a catch 22!!!

Van Noy was a good overall run stopper and a good pass defender against inferior teams, but you don't have to look any further than the Wisconsin game last year to know he got beat with regularity against legit teams who had decent or better TE's. He has some good intangibles you can't teach but the Falcons need to get quicker on the defensive side of the ball and if they're looking for quickness, this guy ain't it.

Do not be surprised to hear the Falcons select Trevor Reilly in the second round. Read his entire bio and you can see Blank's and Dimitroff's false empathy all over it. It would not be a bad choice at all but it won't be for purely football reasons.